Plow



Aug. 28, 1945. YOUNG 2,383,698

PLOW

Original Filed Feb. 3, 1941 AUSTIN E. YOUNG Patented Aug.- 28,1945

PIDW

Austin E. Young, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to Syracuse Chilled P101! 00., Inc., Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of New York Original application February 3 1941, Serial No.

377,093. Divided and this application Septemher 4, 1942, Serial No. 457,528

Claim.

This application is a division of my co-pendlng application, Serial No. 377,095, filed February 3, 1941, now United States Patent 2,340,165, issued January 25, 1944.

The object and general nature of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved hitch construction for plows, particularly those known as integral plows and connected with the associated tractor. More particularly, it is a feature of this invention to provide a hitch arrangement which is effective to hold the associated plow beam in upright position but which does not interfere with desired lateral movement of the plow beam with respect to the tractor or other supporting means. Still further, another feature of this invention is the provision of a hitch connection, particularly adapted for use with twoway plows, but not necessarily limited thereto, in which adjustments in the hitch for the use of plow bottoms of different widths is easily and conveniently made, yet without losing the advantage of holding the plow beam in the desired upright position at all times. An additional feature of the present invention is the provision of a plow bitch in which it is unnecessary to change the tread of the tractor when changing to plow bottoms of different widths. Still further, another feature of this invention is the provision of a hitch connection of this kind which includes cushioning or yielding means relieving the plow bottom or bottoms of shock stresses, which might otherwise occur when obstructions and the like are encountered.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration ofthe following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanyin drawing illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side view of a tractor two-way plow in which the principles f the present invention have been incorporated; and

Figures 2 and 3 show the details of the hitch connection and the two optional arrangements by which the right and left hand plow beams are connected with the tractor and held in upright position.

Referring now to the drawing, particularly Figure 1, the reference numeral i indicates in its entirety a farm tractor which may be of any suitable construction and which is therefore shown only fragmentarily. The tractor i includes a frame 2 having frame bars 3, the frame 2 servin as a supporting and propelling means for the plowing units with which the present invention is more particularly concerned. The tractor I also includes a rear axle structure I and rear wheels I, and the tractor is usually provided with a transverse drawbar, such as the one indicated by the reference numeral I, th latter being flxed to the tractor l in any suitable manner, preferably to the rear axle drive housings 8 which form a part of the rear axle structure 4. Preferably, the tractor drawbar I is in the form of an angle bar having apertures to which implements may selectively be attached.

The present invention is disclosed in a two-way plow, but since the right and left hand plowing units are identical, except that one is a right hand unit and the other a left hand unit, a detailed description of one unit will sufice. Also, it is to be understood that the present invention is not necessarily limited to two-way plows but may b embodied in other types of plows.

The right hand plowing unit is indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral Ill and includes a plow beam l l of more or less conventional construction, consisting of a bar I! and a downwardly disposed standard l3 fixed to the bar I2 by one or more plates ll bolted and/or riveted to the associated members. A member I5 of 2 formation has one leg l1 secured, as by a rivet i 9, to the front end of the bar l2, and the other leg ill of the member it is slotted, as at 2|, to receive a transverse draft rod 23. The latter is carried in apertured brackets 24 and 25 that are welded to a transverse angle 21 which is adapted to be bolted, as at 28, to the tractor drawbar I adjacent the ends thereof. It will be noted that by virtue of the Z-bar l6, the end l9 thereof is connected in laterally oflset relation to the draft rod 23, being laterally inwardly of the beam ll whenthe parts are arranged as shown in Figure 3. The power of the tractor is transmitted directly to the beam H by means of a pull rod 3| having an eye 32 encircling the adjacent end of the transverse draft rod 23. The rear end of the pull rod 3| extends rearwardly through an eye-bolt 3! that is fixed, as by a nut 35, to the front end of the beam H. The eye-bolt also serves to fasten the 2 member i6 to the front of the plow beam, as best shown in Figure 3. A spring 36 is disposed about the rear portfon of the pull rod 3| and at its rear end engages a washer 31', the position of which is governed by an adjusting nut 38 screwed onto the rear threaded end of the pull rod. Thus, the forward pull is transmitted from the tractor to the plow through a spring cushion hitch, as just described, which reduces the shock of striking an obstruction when plowing.

From Figure 3, it will be noted that the eye 82 of the pull rod 3| embraces the drai't rod 23 an appreciable distance laterally outwardly beyond the slotted end I9 oi the Z-shaped member I6. The aperture in the latter, through which the pull rod 3i extends, forms a snug lit, and since the rear portion of the pull rod ii is disposed in the eye of the bolt 34 it will be seen that the plow beam II is held against movement about a generally longitudinal axis, or, in other words, the plow beam is held in an upright position relative to the tractor but is permitted to swing generally vertically about the draft rod 23 as an axis. The slot 2i accommodates longitudinai movement of the plow beam II and also permits the plow beam to swing laterally 9. limited amount, generally about the eye 32 as a center, but does not minimize the restraint against lateral tilting of the plow beam.

The position of the hitch connection for each plow beam on the draft rod 23 may be varied to permit the use of plow bottoms of different widths. For example, when plow bottoms of fairly wide construction are utilized, the plow beam II is disposed (Figure 3) with the end I8 of the member I6 substantially up against the central bracket 25, and in order to hold the beam in this position, a pair of spacers 4! and 42 are placed on the draft rod 23 laterally outwardly of the pull rod 3i. It will be understood that the draft rod 23 is loosely supported in the brackets 24 and 25, and may be held removably in position therein by cotter keys 43 or other suitable means. When it is desired to use more narrow bottoms, the hitch connections are shifted into the positions shown in Figure 2, with the longer of the two spacing sleeves 4I disposed between the end I9 and the center bracket 25. This change of hitch when using plow bottoms of difierent widths is desirable in order that the tractor wheels may operate properly in the previously opened furrow, and by this means it is unnecessary to change the tread of the tractor when changing to plow bottoms of different widths. According to the present invention, therefore, this implement may be used effectively with tractors of fixed tread.

The present invention is particularly concerned with the hitch connections just described and is not concerned with the details of the plow bottom and associated controls which are incorporated in the right and left hand units, these lat ter improvements constituting the subject matter of my parent application, identified above. For the purpose of this disclosure it will therefore be sufiicient to note that the plow bottom 50 is of the conventional moldboard type and is mounted on a frog 54 which is connected to the plow beam standard I3 by means affording simultaneous depth and leveling adjustments, which means includes a. sleeve 51 fixed to the lower end of the standard I3 and receiving a pivot bolt 59 to which a swivel block 63 is pivotally connected, the plow beam being pivoted, as at 82 with the central portion of the swivel block 63. To facilitate this connection, the plow bottom 50 carries an attaching plate or casting I suitably bolted thereto.

A combined depth and leveling lever I00 is mounted on a pivot bolt I 0|, which may be one of the bolts fixing the plates I4 to the beam l2. The lever I00 is provided with a conventional detent mechanism I02 which cooperates with a sector Ill fixed to the beam I2. The end of the lever I00 extends rearwardly beyond the pivot bolt I 0| and is pivotally connected with the upper ends of a pair oi links I00 and I01 which at their lower ends are connected, as at H5 and I22, with the members 63 and I0.

The plows may be raised into transport position out of engagement with the ground by any suitable means. Preferably, I mount a bracket I4I on the rear end of each of the frame bars 0, the bracket being formed with a sector section I42 and is apertured to receive a, short shaft I43. An arm I44 is connected to the shaft I43 and at its outer end is provided with a plurality of apertures I45 to receive a bolt I46 to which the upper end of a chain I41 is connected. The lower end of the chain is connected, as at I48, to the associated plow beam II. A hand lever I 50 is fixed to the shaft I43 so that by swinging the hand lever I50 forwardly the lifting lever I44 is raised and acts through the chain I47 to raise the associated plow into transport position. The weight of the plow may be counterbalanced by suitable springs I52 anchored at their rear ends by an adjusting bolt I53 to a bracket I54 fixed to the plate I4 I. The forward ends of the springs I52 may be connected to an arm on the shaft I43 or connected in any suitable manner to the lower forward end of the hand lever I50 forward of the shaft I43.

While I have shown and described above the preferred structure in which the principles of the present invention have been incorporated, it is to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described above, but that, in fact, widely different means may be employed in the practice of the broader aspects of my invention.

What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A plow comprising means serving as a supporting frame, a plow beam, and means connecting said plow beam with said frame to accommodate generally vertical swinging movement relative thereto but preventing generally oscillatory movement of said beam relative to said supporting frame means about a generally longitudinal axis, said connecting means comprising a transverse bar on the supporting frame means, a first member fixed rigidly at one end to the plow beam so as to move therewith at all times, the other end being slotted and receiving said transverse bar, a second member engaging said transverse bar at a point spaced laterally of said first member and connected for relative movement longitudinally 01' said plow beam so as to move therewith at all times, and spring means resisting shifting movement of said second member relative to the plow beam.

2. A two-way plow comprising means serving as a supporting frame, a pair of plow beams, a transverse bar, a pair of brackets on said frame means receiving the ends of said transverse bar, means connecting each plow beam with said transverse bar, comprising a first member fixed at one end to the plow beam, the other end being slotted and receiving said transverse bar, a second member engaging said transverse bar at a point spaced laterally of said first member and connected with said plow beam for generally longitudinal shifting movement relative thereto, and spring means resisting shifting movement of said second member, and a pair of spacers on said transverse bar for determining the spacing between said beams, said spacers being adapted to be disposed either generally centrally or said bar between the inner of said members or one at each end of said transverse bar laterally outwardly of the outer or said members, so as to provide for attaching plow bottoms of different sizes to said beams.

3. A plow comprising means serving as a supporting frame, a plow beam, means connecting said plow beam with said frame to accommodate generally vertical swinging movement relative thereto but preventing generally oscillatory movement of said beam relative to said supporting frame means about a generally longitudinal axis. said connecting means comprising a transverse bar on the supporting frame means, a first member fixed at one end to the outside of said plow beam and extending laterally inwardly and forwardly, the forward end being slotted and receiving said transverse bar, a second member engaging said transverse bar at a point spaced laterally of said first member, the latter having an opening adjacent the end of the beam through which said second member passes, an eyebolt carried by said beam and receiving the rear portion of said second member, and a spring acting at its rear end against said second member and at its forward end against said eyebolt to cushion the transmission of pulling forces to said beam.

4. A plow hitch construction comprising a Z- shaped member having one end adapted to be secured to the forward end of a plow beam, the other end of said Z-shaped member being apertured, and a second member disposed generally laterally of said apertured portion and having an aperture substantially in lateral registration therewith, means movably connecting said second member to the plow beam, and spring means yieldably resisting movement of said second member relative to said plow beam.

5. A plow comprising means serving as a supporting frame, a plow beam, and means connecting said plow beam with said frame comprising a transverse bar on the supporting frame, a first member fixed rigidly at one end to the plow beam so as to move therewith at all times, the other end being offset laterally, the offset section being slotted longitudinally, and receiving said transverse bar, and a second member engaging said transverse bar at a point spaced laterally of the longitudinally slotted part of said first member and connected with said plow beam so as to be shiftable generally longitudinally of said plow beam.

6. A plow comprising means serving as a supporting frame, a plow beam, and means connecting said plow beam with said frame to accommodate generally vertical swinging movement relative thereto but preventing generally oscillatory movement of said beam relative to said supporting frame means about a generally longitudinal axis, said connecting means comprising a transverse bar on the supporting frame means, a first member fixed at one end to the plow beam, the other end being slotted and receiving said transverse bar, said first member having a laterally oiiset section with an aperture therein, and a second member extending generally longitudinally of the plow beam through said last mentioned aperture and connected at its rear end with said beam, said second member at its forward end engaging said transverse bar at a point spaced laterally of said first member.

7. A plow comprising means serving as a supporting frame, a plow beam and means connecting said plow beam with said frame comprising a pair of members, each adapted to be secured rearwardly to said plow beam, said members respectively including laterally spaced sections, one section being apertured and the other section having a generally longitudinally extending slot therein, the member having the apertured sec tion being movable relative to the other member. means cushioning the movement of said apertured member relative to the other, and a hitch member adapted to be secured to said supporting frame in laterally extending relation and extending through said slot and said aperture, said plow beam being adapted to swing generally laterally about the apertured section as a center. limited by the longitudinally extending slot in the companlon section.

8. A hitch construction for a plow including a plow beam, comprising a generally Z-shaped member secured at one end rigidly to the plow beam and including at the other end a forwardly extending section disposed laterally of the vertical longitudinal plane of the plow beam, the intermediate portion of said Z-shaped member having an opening therethrough and said laterally oflset section being apertured, and a second member slidably extending through said opening and movably connected at its rear end with said plow beam.

9. A two-way plow comprising means serving as a supporting frame, a pair of plow beams, a transverse member carried by said frame means, means connecting each plow beam with said transverse member, comprising a first part fixed at one end to the plow beam, the other end being offset laterally and slotted to receive said transverse member, a second part engaging said transverse member at a point spaced laterally of said first part and connected with said plow beam, and spacing means on said transverse member for determining the spacing between said plow beams, said spacing means being adapted to be disposed either generally centrally of said transverse member between the inner of said parts or at each end of said transverse member laterally outwardly of the outer of said parts.

10. A two-way plow comprising means serving as a supporting frame, a pair of plow beams, a transverse member carried by said frame means, means connecting each plow beam with said transverse member, comprising a first part fixed at one end to the plow beam, the other end being offset laterally and slotted to receive said transverse member, a second part engaging said transverse member at a point spaced laterally of said first part and connected with said plow beam, and a pair of spacers on said transverse member for determining the spacing between said plow beams, said spacers being adapted to be disposed either generally centrally of said transverse member between the inner of said parts or one at each end of said transverse member laterally outwardly of the outer of said parts, so as to provide for attaching plow bottoms of different sizes to said beams.

11. A plow comprising means serving as a supporting frame, a plow beam, means connectll'lg said plow beam with said frame to accommodate generally vertical swinging movement relative thereto and preventing generally oscillatory movement of said beam relative to said supporting frame means about a generally longitudinal axis, said connecting means comprising a transverse bar on the supporting frame means, a first member fixed at one end to said plow beam and extending generally laterally inwardly and forwardly, the forward end being apertured and receiving said transverse bar, a second member engaging said transverse bar at a point spaced laterally of said first member, the latter having an opening adjacent the end of the beam through which said second member passes, and means for securing the second member to said plow beam.

12. A plow comprising means serving as a. supporting frame, a plow beam, means connecting said plow beam with said frame to accommodate generally vertical swinging movement relative thereto and preventing generally oscilla- Lory movement of said beam relative to said supporting frame means about a generally longitudinal axis, said connecting means comprising a transverse bar on the supporting frame means, a first member fixed at one end to said plow beam and extending generally laterally inwardly and forwardly, the forward end being apertured and receiving said transverse bar, a second member engaging said transverse bar at a point spaced laterally of said first member, the latter having an openin adjacent the end of the beam through which said second member passes, means connecting said second member with said plow beam for generally longitudinal movement relative to the latter and said first member, and means for limiting the longitudinal movement of said second member.

13. A plow hitch construction for a plow beam, comprising a first member adapted to be fixed at one end to the plow beam and including a section extending laterally inwardly and forwardly, the forward end being apertured, a. second member disposed laterally of said apertured section and also apertured, said second member having a sliding engagement with said first member and disposed adjacent the plow beam, an eyebolt carried by said plow beam and receiving the rear portion of said second member, and a spring acting at its rear end against said second member and at its forward end against said eyebolt.

14. A hitch construction as defined in claim 8, further characterized by a transverse hitch member extending through the laterally oflset apertured portion of said Z-shaped member and connected with the forward part of said second mem-v ber.

15. A two-way plow comprising means serving as a supporting frame, a pair of plow beams. a transverse bar, a pair of brackets on said frame means receivin the ends of said transverse bar, means connecting each plow beam with said transverse bar, comprising a. first member fixed at one end to the plow beam, the other end being slotted and receiving said transverse bar, a second member engaging said transverse bar at a point spaced laterally of said first member and connected with said plow beam so as to be shiftable generally longitudinally of said plow beam, and spring means resisting shifting movement of said second member, and a pair of spacers on said transverse bar for determining the spacing between said beams.

AUSTIN E. YOUNG.

CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,383,698

g s 1; 2s. shs.

menu a. room.

It is hereby certified that error appears 1n the printed specification of the above numbered patent requirrng corrections: follows Page 2, second column, lines 56 and 5?, strike out: the words "so as to move therewith at all times"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read-with thiscorr-ection therein that the same may conform to the record of the the Patent Office.

case in Signed and sealed this 19th day of December, A. o. 1915.

(Seal) Leslie Frazer First Assistant commissioner of Patents. J

and extending generally laterally inwardly and forwardly, the forward end being apertured and receiving said transverse bar, a second member engaging said transverse bar at a point spaced laterally of said first member, the latter having an opening adjacent the end of the beam through which said second member passes, and means for securing the second member to said plow beam.

12. A plow comprising means serving as a. supporting frame, a plow beam, means connecting said plow beam with said frame to accommodate generally vertical swinging movement relative thereto and preventing generally oscilla- Lory movement of said beam relative to said supporting frame means about a generally longitudinal axis, said connecting means comprising a transverse bar on the supporting frame means, a first member fixed at one end to said plow beam and extending generally laterally inwardly and forwardly, the forward end being apertured and receiving said transverse bar, a second member engaging said transverse bar at a point spaced laterally of said first member, the latter having an openin adjacent the end of the beam through which said second member passes, means connecting said second member with said plow beam for generally longitudinal movement relative to the latter and said first member, and means for limiting the longitudinal movement of said second member.

13. A plow hitch construction for a plow beam, comprising a first member adapted to be fixed at one end to the plow beam and including a section extending laterally inwardly and forwardly, the forward end being apertured, a. second member disposed laterally of said apertured section and also apertured, said second member having a sliding engagement with said first member and disposed adjacent the plow beam, an eyebolt carried by said plow beam and receiving the rear portion of said second member, and a spring acting at its rear end against said second member and at its forward end against said eyebolt.

14. A hitch construction as defined in claim 8, further characterized by a transverse hitch member extending through the laterally oflset apertured portion of said Z-shaped member and connected with the forward part of said second mem-v ber.

15. A two-way plow comprising means serving as a supporting frame, a pair of plow beams. a transverse bar, a pair of brackets on said frame means receivin the ends of said transverse bar, means connecting each plow beam with said transverse bar, comprising a. first member fixed at one end to the plow beam, the other end being slotted and receiving said transverse bar, a second member engaging said transverse bar at a point spaced laterally of said first member and connected with said plow beam so as to be shiftable generally longitudinally of said plow beam, and spring means resisting shifting movement of said second member, and a pair of spacers on said transverse bar for determining the spacing between said beams.

AUSTIN E. YOUNG.

CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,383,698

g s 1; 2s. shs.

menu a. room.

It is hereby certified that error appears 1n the printed specification of the above numbered patent requirrng corrections: follows Page 2, second column, lines 56 and 5?, strike out: the words "so as to move therewith at all times"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read-with thiscorr-ection therein that the same may conform to the record of the the Patent Office.

case in Signed and sealed this 19th day of December, A. o. 1915.

(Seal) Leslie Frazer First Assistant commissioner of Patents. J 

